Ceiling-clamp



(No Model.)

I. S. HUNTER. CEILING CLAMP.

Patented Dec. 24, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRISH SHINES HUNTER, OF RUSSELL COUNTY, ALABAMA.

CElLlNG-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,867, dated December 24, 1889.

Application filed August 29, 1889- T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRISH SHINES HUNTER, of the county of Russell and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ceiling-Clamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in ceiling clamps; and it consists in the combination of a screw-rod which is hooked at its upper end, so as to catch over one of the joists and thus support the other portions of the clamp and the board in position, a horizontal supporting-arm upon the screwrod, and a nut for tightening the parts in position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide clamps by means of which the boards out of which the ceiling is to be made can be securely held in position ready for the carpenter to nail them in place, and thus save much expense in time and labor.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clamp which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

A represents one of the joists, and B one of the boards out of which the ceiling is to be formed. Catching over the top of the joist is the screw-rod O, which has a hook formed on its upper end and which serves to support the board and the other parts of the clamp. Passed around the upper end of the screw-rod is the supporting arm or plate D, which will project beyond the screw-rod any desired distance upon one side, and which has its other end bent or doubled, as shown at G, so as to clamp a block L, which forms a bearing against the under side of the joists, and thus hold the arm or plate D always in a horizontal position ready to receive the plank. lVere it not for this construction one end of the frame or plate would be always tipping up or getting out of position and prevent uniform pressure from being applied to the under side of the board which is being held in position ready to be nailed to the joists. Secured to the under side of this arm Serial No. 322,293. (No model.)

or plate are the two braces I J, which are preferably shaped as shown. The brace J is secured at its upper end to the under side of the arm or plate, has its lower end bent at right angles, and through this lower end is formed an opening through which the lower end of the screw-rod passes. The brace I is secured at its outer end to the under side of the arm or plate and at its lower end to the side of the brace J. Passed over the lower end of the screwrod is the clamping-nut O, by means of which the arm or plate is forced upward against the under side of the plank which is to be nailed into position. are several of these clamps to be used, according to the length of the plank which is to be nailed in place, and each clamp will be made to catch over a separate joist. The clamping-nut in each clamp is loosened, so as to allow the arm or plate to sink downward sufficiently to allow a board to be inserted into position, and then each one of the nuts is tightened up until the arm or plate, by hearing against its under side, forces it into position, where it is held until it can be nailed in place, and then the clamps are all loosened and moved over from the work, so as to make room for another plank.

The great advantage of a device like what is here shown and described consists in enabling a single mechanic to rapidly and easily nail boards of different lengths in positionsomething which can only be done at a great waste of time and exertion where no device is employed for holding the plank in position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The combination of the screw-rod provided with a hook upon its upper end to catch over the joists, the arm or plate extending outward from the screw-rod, the angular brace secured to the under side of the arm, and the nut which is applied to the lower end of the screw-rod below the brace and engaging it, "substantially as shown and described.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IRISH SHINES HUNTER.

\Vitnesses:

O. S. PERRY, I. E. ELLISON.

There 

